Problems · NHTSA complaints

2015 BMW Z4 SDRIVE35I problems

Owners filed 5 complaints about the 2015 BMW Z4 SDRIVE35I with NHTSA between Mar 2015 and Oct 2025. The most-cited component is engine and engine cooling (2).

Complaints
5
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Engine and engine cooling2
  2. Electrical system2
  3. Engine1
  4. Exterior lighting1
  5. Power train1

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 29, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20151
20160
20170
20181
20190
20200
20210
20220
20230
20240
20253

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Engine and engine cooling

2 reports
“The contact owns a 2015 BMW Z4. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V608000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 11, 2025Engine and engine cooling, Electrical systemODI 11666290

Electrical system

2 reports
“The contact owns a 2015 BMW Z4. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V608000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was made aware of the issue. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 10, 2025Engine and engine cooling, Electrical systemODI 11647400

Engine

1 report
“My 2015 BMW Z4 vehicle has a coolant pump safety recall. It reportedly could cause a short circuit and thermal event or fire. I bought the vehicle while living elsewhere and am now in a small community with 4 major automobile dealers but not BMW. The nearest BMW dealer is about 220 miles away. I contacted that dealer. The service rep said it is 1.5-2 day repair and a loaner vehicle may be available. The repair time sounds wrong but is what she said. She said the dealership would not work with any facility close to me to make the repair so I must drive the 440 plus round trip miles for BMW dealer repair. Repair of 1.5 to 2 days means I would either need lodging and waste least 2-3 days of my time or drive back home with a 2nd trip to the dealer to return a loaner and get my car, 880 miles and many hours driving. Even a 1 day repair means 440 miles and many hours. Called BMW Recall Hotline at [XXX] & explained my situation. They declined help saying the dealer decides how the repair is handled. I called BMW Customer Service [XXX] . They declined help & said a BMW dealer must repair unless it wants to work with another repair facility. I submitted a web-form…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 2, 2025EngineODI 11691012

Exterior lighting

1 report
“HEADLIGHTS ARE POINTING DIRECTLY AT THE GROUND WITHIN 15-20 FEET OF THE FRONT OF THE CAR. DRIVING AT NIGHT IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE WITHOUT THE HIGH BEAMS LIT. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AS YOU CANNOT SEE FAR ENOUGH DOWN THE ROAD TO AVOID OBSTACLES. THIS WAS CORRECTED PREVIOUSLY AND THROUGH NORMAL OPERATION THE AIMING ADJUST SENSOR IN THE REAR KEEPS FLIPPING OVER CENTER DRIVING THE AIM DOWN.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 15, 2018Exterior lightingODI 11111382

Power train

1 report
“I HAD A VERY FRIGHTENING TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTION ON SATURDAY, MARCH 7 IN MY 2015 Z4 (THREE MONTHS OLD). I WAS HEADING DOWN A SLOPE INTO A PARKING LOT AND STOPPED TO PICK UP A TICKET AT THE KIOSK. THE CAR WAS IN DRIVE AND MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE. ONCE I GOT THE TICKET, I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE AND THE CAR STARTED DRIVING BACKWARDS! I STOPPED IMMEDIATELY (LUCKILY THERE WAS NO ONE CLOSE BEHIND ME) AND TRIED AGAIN. SAME THING. SO, I PUT IT IN PARK, THEN BACK IN DRIVE AND IT DROVE NORMALLY. FINE. FROM THERE, I HAD TO GO TO THE STORE. WHEN I GOT THERE, I TURNED OFF THE ENGINE (AND THE KEY WAS IN MY PURSE) AND, OF COURSE, IT WENT AUTOMATICALLY INTO PARK, AS IT ALWAYS DOES WHEN IT TURNS OFF. SITTING IN MY PARKED CAR, I WENT TO GET SOME STUFF OUT OF MY PURSE AND WITH THE ENGINE TURNED COMPLETELY OFF, BEFORE MY VERY EYES THE GEAR SHIFTED FROM PARK TO REVERSE AND MY CAR STARTED MOVING BACKWARDS. I QUICKLY HIT THE BRAKE AND PUT ON THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. BMW ASSIST CAME OUT TO PICK UP THE CAR AND BRING IT IN FOR SERVICE. EVERYONE AGREES THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD OF SUCH A THING, BUT IT IS 100% TRUE AND SCARED THE LIFE OUT OF ME. I'M AFRAID TO GO BACK IN MY CAR, NOW. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 11, 2015Power trainODI 10693730
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 29, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.